Grant: Project Grant

In Canada, approximately 20% of youth experience mental health issues that impact their daily lives. The rate of mental illness and need for access to mental healthcare is especially troubling for First Nations (FN) youth. As a result of colonial processes, FN youth are at higher risk for developing a mental illness, misusing drugs and alcohol, and dying by suicide compared to non-FN youth. Despite this, there remains a lack of mental healthcare services that are both readily available within FN communities and are culturally appropriate. The goal of this mixed-methods study is to conduct an evaluation of an enhanced telemental health services (ETHS) model to examine its impact in delivering mental health services to FN youth living in the four Island Lake Anishininew communities in Manitoba. Telemental health involves the provision of health information and services over a distance via information and communication technologies such as patient-provider videoconferencing. The ETHS model is rooted in Jordan's Principle-a child first principle developed to eliminate barriers to health and social services, including mental healthcare services for FN youth. The ETHS model takes an innovative approach, using both traditional clinical methods of service delivery (e.g., direct intervention and face-to-face interactions with clinicians) as well as novel strategies (e.g., delivery of services using telehealth) to provide care for youth in their FN communities. The model includes building community capacity as well as educating community service providers to develop sustainable mental healthcare services that are rooted in FN communities and responds to the needs of FN youth and their families. The evaluation of the ETHS model will adopt a child/family-centred approach and integrate multiple methods such as a review of available data, qualitative exploration across multiple levels (e.g., youth, family, community), and arts-based methods.